ON A HIGH NOTE: San Diego Symphony’s “Opus 2005” opening-night gala featured violin virtuoso Joshua Bell, with music director Jahja Ling conducting. Audrey Geisel and Alex Butterfield served as honorary chairs, while cochairs Julia and Craig Schloss, Teri and Steve Penhall orchestrated the festivities. In the (purse) strings section: Joan and Irwin Jacobs, Paul and Barbara Chacon, Dennis Arriola, Janet Winnick, Mel and Linda Katz and Tom and Gayle Allen.

Judith Puha, Tibor Sarlos

COUNTY’S BOUNTY: The area’s top chefs joined farmers, ranchers and vintners from around the state to “Celebrate the Craft” at The Lodge at Torrey Pines. Featured chefs included Jeff Jackson of A.R. Valentien and Todd Sanders of The Grill at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, W Hotel’s A.J. Voytko, Trey Foshee of George’s at the Cove, Region’s Michael Stebner, Jeffrey Strauss of Pamplemousse Grill, Arterra’s Carl Schroeder and James Foran, Jack Fisher and Jason Knibb of Nine-Ten, Jsix’s Deborah Schneider, Andrew Ryland Spurgin of Waters Fine Catering, Amiko Gubbins of Parallel 33 and Stingaree’s Antonio Friscia.

ALL THAT SPARKLES: The Vaughn Parker Charitable Foundation, with Charles Koll Jewelers, presented the third annual Denim and Diamonds Ball in support of breast cancer awareness month. Guests including former pro baseball star David Justice shopped for diamonds at the Poway estate of hosts Kymberli Parker and husband, former Charger Vaughn Parker, with a portion of proceeds donated to Palomar Pomerado Health and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

SMOOTH SAILING: Guests decked out in 1940s finery sailed back in time for the 36th annual Mercy Ball, “Good Ship Mercy,” at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. The event raised $223,000 for the Scripps Cancer Center at Scripps Mercy Hospitals in San Diego and Chula Vista. A live auction of jerseys autographed by seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong netted $23,500. Katherine Kennedy, Robert Horsman and Tony and Nancy McCune cochaired.

Diana Loo and Ted Chan

SAY AHHH:San Diego Magazine and the San Diego County Medical Society recognized the area’s 350 top docs, as voted by physicians’ peers, at a black-tie gala at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. The Medical Society’s Tom Gehring spotlighted multiple-year honorees, and guests tried their hands at casino gambling sponsored by Green Valley Ranch.

Des McAnuff, Kristin Chenoweth

PHANTASM PHUN: La Jolla Playhouse staged “A Night of Illusion,” featuring a showstopping gala performance by Tony Award–winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth. Staging the festivities, chair Debby Jacobs was joined by guests who included major underwriters Joan and Irwin Jacobs, Audrey Geisel and Alex Butterfield, as well as Jeanne Jones and Don Breitenberg, Charmaine Kaplan and producer Aaron Sorkin.

Gina Poag, Maria Delgado, Ginger Cary, Tiffany Mahoney

A SOL-FUL CAUSE: The Beach & Country Guild turned “Sweet ’n’ Sassy” for the 36th annual Dia del Sol luncheon and fashion show presented by Nordstrom at the Rancho Santa Fe estate of Kathy and Bill Scripps and benefiting United Cerebral Palsy. KUSI-TV’s Kimberly Hunt served as emcee, and Fran Anderson, Dee Gordon, April Higgins and Silvina Petrate chaired.

Margaret McEwen, Laura Maloney, Mary Eckert, Rose Carver

A HARDY MARDI: The San Diego Polo Club kicked off the Spreckels Cup with the “Mother of All Parties” at the Morgan Run Resort & Club in Rancho Santa Fe. Guests donning their most outrageous Mardi Gras gear included club president Chris Maloney, his wife and event cochair Laura and cochair Kelly Maloney, plus Lisa Bosstick, Shel and Ellen Greenhill, Dirk and Alisha Wray, Robert and Julie Mayer, Alan Wallock and Isabelle Korfhage and Spike and Loni Speltz.

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